Phophi Ramathuba | |
---|---|
Limpopo MEC for Health | |
Assumed office 27 May 2015 | |
Premier | Stanley Mathabatha |
Preceded by | Maaria Ishmael Kgetjepe |
Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature | |
Assumed office 27 May 2015 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Elim Hospital, Waterval, Transvaal Province, South African[1] | 15 August 1973
Political party | African National Congress |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University University of Pretoria |
Occupation | Member of the Executive Council |
Profession | Politician |
Phophi Constance Ramathuba (born 15 August 1973) is a South African politician and medical doctor. She has been the Limpopo MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Health and a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature since May 2015. Ramathuba is a member of the African National Congress.
Ramathuba was born on 15 August 1973 at Elim Hospital, Waterval and grew up in Mashamba, then part of South Africa's Transvaal Province.[1][2] She is one of five children. She matriculated at Mbilwi Secondary School and studied at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (formerly known as MEDUNSA), where she obtained a bachelor of medicine and a bachelor of surgery degree. From the University of Pretoria, she received a master's degree in medical pharmacology. Ramathuba had also fulfilled courses in health and business leadership.[2]
Ramathuba started her career as an intern at the Mokopane Hospital.[2] Prior to being appointed to the Limpopo provincial government, she was the chief executive of the Voortrekker Hospital and the chairperson of the SA Medical Association.[3]
Ramathuba is a long-standing member of the African National Congress. She serves as a member of the party's provincial executive committee. On 27 May 2015, Ramathuba was sworn in as a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, representing the ANC.[3] On the same day, premier Stanley Mathabatha appointed her Member of the Executive Council for Health, succeeding Maaria Ishmael Kgetjepe. The changes came into effect immediately.[4][5]
Ramathuba was re-elected to the provincial legislature in the 2019 Limpopo provincial election held on 8 May. On 22 May 2019, Mathabatha announced that she would remain as Health MEC.[6]
In January 2022, Ramathuba came under criticism for telling schoolgirls at the Gwenane Secondary School in Sekgakgapeng to "open your books and close your legs".[7][8]
In August 2022 Ramathuba's remarks to a bed-ridden Zimbabwean patient in Bela-Bela, went viral.[9] On the video she accused foreigners of abusing state resources allocated to South African Nationals stating: “you are killing my health system. When you guys are sick you just cross the Limpopo River, there’s an MEC there who is running a charity department.”[10] Politicians such as EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Mmusi Maimane criticized Ramathuba for humiliating the patient and called for the revocation of her medical licence.[11]
Ramathuba has two daughters.[2] On 1 July 2020, Mathabatha announced that Ramathuba had tested positive for COVID-19.[12]